After nearly a decade of running without anti-cheat measures, Rocket League is preparing to adopt Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC)—and crucially, it will work on Linux. Psyonix’s announcement, shared via the game’s official X account, signals a major shift in how the competitive vehicular soccer title handles cheating, but with careful considerations for modders, LAN players, and Steam Deck owners.
The update, slated for April as part of Season 22, introduces EAC to combat DDoS attacks, improve bot detection, and enforce stricter bans on cheaters. Unlike some recent high-profile anti-cheat rollouts, Psyonix has prioritized accessibility, ensuring the game remains playable on Linux systems—including the Steam Deck—via Valve’s Proton compatibility layer.
However, the implementation isn’t without tradeoffs. EAC will be mandatory for online matches, private games, and tournaments, but players can disable it entirely for offline play, LAN sessions, or split-screen multiplayer. This flexibility addresses concerns from competitive communities and local gaming setups.
Modders and tournament organizers will also feel the impact. While community content like Steam Workshop maps will remain playable with or without EAC, custom mods will require the anti-cheat to be turned off. Psyonix has acknowledged this limitation but has offered a workaround: specific accounts—likely tournament partners—may request exceptions to play online with EAC disabled on a case-by-case basis.
To mitigate the loss of mod functionality, Psyonix is integrating popular mod-inspired features directly into the game. These include an in-game MMR display, enhanced custom training options, and an optional flip reset indicator—a nod to the community’s long-standing requests.
The announcement also confirms that Steam Deck users won’t be left behind, as the game will retain full Linux compatibility. This aligns with broader industry trends, where Valve’s Proton layer continues to bridge gaps for Linux gamers.
Key details for players
- EAC rollout: Mandatory for online matches, private games, and tournaments starting in April.
- Offline/LAN flexibility: EAC can be disabled for local play, LAN, and split-screen.
- Mod restrictions: Custom mods require EAC to be off; community maps (e.g., Steam Workshop) remain unaffected.
- Tournament exceptions: Partners may request EAC-off access for online play.
- Linux/Steam Deck support: Confirmed via Proton; no compatibility issues expected.
- New features: In-game MMR, custom training upgrades, and flip reset indicators added.
For competitive players, the update aims to strike a balance between security and accessibility. While EAC’s introduction is a step toward reducing cheating, the preservation of Linux support and offline options ensures that Rocket League’s core audience—whether they’re streaming, LAN gaming, or playing on a Steam Deck—won’t be locked out.
Psyonix has invited further feedback ahead of the April update, suggesting additional refinements may emerge as the season progresses.
